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  • Presenter: Ralph Carson, LD, RD, PhD
  • Price: $75
  • Credit: 1.0 CE credit
  • Course Level: Introductory
  • Format: 1 hour video lecture
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Overview

The journey of recovery from an eating disorder is long and complicated. There are numerous treatment models that address this devastating health problem, but it has only recently come to light the importance of sleep in expediting the recovery process and its role in relapse prevention. With over 60% of the population reporting episodes of insomnia, those struggling with eating disorders report a much higher incidence. Sleep is the time during which the brain heals. Therefore, not only is it important that one gets enough sleep, but the quality of that sleep is a key to long term recovery. This course addresses the challenges of sleep and therapeutic intervention that will assist those who treat eating disorders.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. List ten techniques of sleep hygiene that are helpful in correcting sleep latency and improving sleep quality.
  2. Discuss the five stages of sleep and explain how each is important for recovery.
  3. Analyze how various sleep medications work and their limitations for long term correction of disordered sleep.
  4. Explain how circadian rhythms and homeostatic drive work together to establish effective sleep cycles.
  5. Interpret how diet, caffeine, exercise, hormones and chronic stress disrupt, fragment and wreak havoc on the body’s sleep architecture.
  6. Interpret the various pathways and chemicals that interact in establishing healthy sleep patterns.

CE Details

The CE Company is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The CE Company maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Learning Objectives

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

  • Explain why adequate sleep is critical for both physical and mental health
  • Identify the mechanisms of how poor sleep impacts health
  • Describe strategies useful for improving poor sleep

CE Instructions

This online program provides CE training and coursework. Accreditation requires the completion of a post-test. A passing grade of at least 75% must be met on this test in order to obtain certification. Instructions for certification will be provided upon completing the course in full.

Instructor Bio

Ralph Carson, LD, RD, PhD, is a clinical nutritionist and exercise physiologist with nearly 40 years of experience in the treatment of addictions, mood and anxiety disorders, sports nutrition and eating disorders. Prior to joining ERC Pathlight, Dr. Carson was the Executive Director of FitRx in Brentwood, Tennessee, an outpatient program for people of size struggling with both medical and psychological complications of binge eating. He is also a Clinical Nutritional Advisor to Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In addition to his successful clinical practice, Dr. Carson is committed to community education and teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals specializing in exercise therapy, sports nutrition, eating disorders and mood and anxiety. He was a faculty member of the University of Alabama at Huntsville for over 20 years, and previously nutritional advisor to numerous university athletic departments, and speaks regularly to professional and lay audiences alike. Dr. Carson is the author of two books “Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit” and “The Brain Fix: What’s the Matter with Your Gray Matter”, and has published more than 20 articles. Additionally, Dr. Carson is an active board member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) and in 2018 received the IAEDP Lifetime Achievement Award for Nutrition. He is a previous board member of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA). Dr. Carson has earned multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Science from Duke University; Bachelor of Health Science from Duke University Medical School; Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Oakwood College; and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from Auburn University.

Conflict of Interest

There is no known commercial interest or conflict of interest for this program.

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About Ralph Carson, LD, RD, PhD

Dr. Carson has been involved in the clinical treatment of obesity, addictions, and eating disorders for over 40 years.  His unique background in health science and medicine, coupled with nutrition and exercise has prepared him to integrate neuropsychobiological intervention and proven psychotherapeutic treatment. He is an active board member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). He has authored several popular books on nutrition, lifestyle practices, good health and the brain: Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruits and the recently published The Brain Fix: What’s the Matter with Your Gray Matter? He is currently Vice President of Science and Innovation for the Eating Recovery Center’s CORE Program for weight management and binge-eating disorders in Denver, CO and consultant for the Pinegrove Behavioral Health and Addiction Center in Hattiesburg, MS.

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